Posted at 11:37 a.m., Thursday, February 10, 2005
Coast Guard reports progress in Cape Flattery operation
Advertiser Staff
The Coast Guard has been able to get the grounded ship Cape Flattery into a more stable position, but the ship is still stuck on a reef off Leeward O'ahu.Operations to offload the granular cement cargo from the Cape Flattery, which is aground 400 yards off Kalaeloa Barbers Point Harbor, continue today.
Overnight, efforts were made to refloat the ship off the reef. The vessel moved slightly and its stern now faces the ocean swells. This new position reduces wave action on the ship, making it safer to continue cargo offloading operations.
More cement will be removed during the day and another attempt to float the vessel off the reef will be made tonight during high tide.
There are six tugboats on the scene.
More than 7,000 metric tons of cement have been removed since offloading began.
The Hawaii Responder — loaded with more than 2,500 feet of oil containment boom — is standing by, ready to deploy if oil enters the water. There are still no reports of any pollution in the water.
The Coast Guard Cutter Walnut continues to enforce a 500 yard safety zone in the area.
